UPDATE: Apologies for the slow-loading (if at all loading) blog yesterday. Why oh why would there be a server outage on the day I run a contest? :) The contest is still open through Friday, March 5th at 3pm. Thank you!

While the cat has been out of the bag on facebook and twitter for some time now, I have yet to announce the big news on the blog. That's right, the Joyce Smith Photography natural light studio will be opening soon in downtown Wayne! I've looked longer than I care to admit for a space and am so happy to be giving up my part-time job as a commercial real estate stalker. I will be equally happy to leave my current position as renovation overseer as well. Painting and lighting projects should be complete this week, and the beautiful white floors will be next. Then the fun part . . . the cavalcade of furniture deliveries (think beautiful modern classics that are *also* kid proof!) will arrive. Stay tuned for details regarding our grand opening in April. I cannot wait to introduce clients to the space and detail all of the wonderful advantages it will provide. It goes without saying--though I will say it anyway--that I will continue to offer on-location sessions in addition to sessions in and around the studio. More details on everything studio are forthcoming!

And now, a little eye candy for my photographer friends. This beauty arrived in the mail yesterday, just in time for my birthday today. Happy Birthday to me indeed! I cannot wait to play with this storied medium format camera. Some of my favorite blogs show off the art produced with this camera beautifully. Check them out if you have time! And yes, watching my daughter look for the nonexistent LCD screen on the back of this film camera was priceless!

Yes, you read that correctly! Would you like to attend either the May 6th & 7th workshop or the July 10th-11th workshop? If so, here's how to enter! One lucky winner will be chosen randomly and announced on the blog this Friday, March 5th.

1) leave a comment on this blog to enter once. Please note that comments on my facebook blog feed will not be transferred here--you must comment here. : )

2) if you'd like to enter more than once to increase your odds of winning, you may do either or both of the following:

-- tweet about the contest, providing a link to this blog post, and come back here to leave another comment saying you tweeted

-- if you'd like to post about the contest on your own blog, providing a link back here, that's good for an additional comment and entry as well

I've been a little scarce on the blog lately--mea culpa! I have a nearly overwhelming number of things in the works right now (oh please tell me that FedEx will be delivering my clones soon! ;)) but many big announcements coming up in the near future. Stay tuned! Buttercup is licking her chops in anticipation. :) Actually, if there were a thought bubble on this image, I think it would simply say "bacon!"

I am thrilled to announce the return of last year's wildly popular holiday mini-sessions! These limited-availability sessions will be offered on two Saturdays this October--the 10th and the 17th (rain dates the 11th and 25th). Sessions on each date will take place at a location I select (you come to me); October 10th will be a location in the city and October 17th minis will be held on the Main Line. So what is a mini-session and for whom are they ideal? Read on . . . Your mini-session fee of $400 includes 20 minutes of shooting time, 25 beautiful press-printed custom holiday/New Year's cards OR one digital image submitted by the studio directly to your stationer of choice (i.e. Tiny Prints, Minted, etc.) and a $250 print credit to be spent on images from the session. A small selection of speciality items as well as digital files will also be available just for mini-session clients. After your mini-session, you'll be shown a minimum of 8-10 images in a private online gallery and will work with me to finalize your order and create your custom cards or choose the digital image you'd like your stationer to use (note that these may be general notecards as well and not specific to the holidays or new year if you wish).

A mini-session is for you if you've recently had a session but would love new images for your holiday cards or to mark a milestone, but aren't quite ready for a second full custom session yet. Or perhaps you've been meaning to try a session but just haven't gotten around to it. Or maybe you're a friend of a client who wants to get a small taste of what it's all about. Or maybe you just want a few gorgeous fall images of your family! While mini-sessions cannot compare to the completely custom experience of a full session, they are perfect for any of these situations.

These limited availability sessions are expected to fill very quickly. Those who have inquired to be placed on a waiting list for potential mini-sessions as well as current clients were notified Friday afternoon and about 75% of the spots are filled. If you'd like to book, contact me soon. If you have inquired and/or paid for your holiday mini, I will be getting back to you today or tomorrow--thank you!

Note: if you prefer the luxury of a full custom JSP session at your home or outdoor location of your choice, the calendar for the remainder of 2009 is open and a few dates remain. Two Saturdays in December are open (note: these do not carry a holiday delivery guarantee) and several weekday mornings for those near (or willing to drive to) the Main Line area are also available. Finally, if you have recently had a session and wish to purchase holiday cards featuring an image from that session, please e-mail before November 7th to order your cards. Please note that JSP will be closed from December 15th through January 5th this year.

And because I can't post without an image, check out all of the wonderful new families who grace the main website! Yes, that's right, I have updated the portfolio at long last. :) Thank you to all of my lovely clients for sharing your life with me. I had such a fun time remembering these sessions as I updated the site. I love my job. :)

Do you feel the nip in the air? Fall is here! Apparently the drop in temperature = holiday portraits in many minds because I heard from everyone (and I mean everyone!) last week. The remainder of 2008 is about 2 sessions away from being completely booked--thank you all for a fabulous year! If you are interested in one of the remaining spots (one of which is before my guaranteed holiday delivery deadline), send me an e-mail soon. Also, in an effort to accommodate more clients this season, I will be opening up a limited number of weekday morning spots for those families in the Main Line area. These special weekday dates are also prior to the holiday deadline.

In related news, the new holiday design guide is here! Contact me if you'd like to see more, but here are just a few samples (and some of my favorite images) of this year's Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year's designs, all of which are customizable and printed on gorgeous art linen or pearl finish cardstock (not photo paper). Please note: if you had a Joyce Smith Photography session this year, any ordered images may be used for holiday cards. Just let me know that you'd like holiday cards and we'll go from there!

Finally, just a couple of snaps from around my house this week. One rainy afternoon M. decided she needed "princess hair" and this is the best I could do with a moving subject. I think she likes it! After that, we paid a little visit to "puppy" in her room. Yes, we are easily entertained around here. :)